Programmable self-operating compact disk duplication system

ABSTRACT

A system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks, the system including a copy unit, a host computer and computer software, the software being installed in the host computer to provide a user interface and to direct the transfer of data from the host computer to the copy unit, the copy unit including a set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives, a microprocessor electronically connected to the activating mechanism of a pivotal transport tower and to the set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives. A robotic disk pickup head on the pivotal transport tower is encompassed by a set of disk spindle members arranged in a symmetric semi-circular pattern around the central tower, the disk pickup head being connected to the pivotal transport tower with an elevator mechanism for lifting and transporting compact disks among the disk spindle members and any selected one of the stacked recordable disk drive members. The microprocessor concurrently directs the movement of the disk pickup head and the copying of data to the CD-R disks in the disk drive members. After a disk copy operation is completed, the computer software and microprocessor may direct the stacked recordable disk drive members to inspect the burned CD-R disks for copy errors and further direct the disk pickup head to remove and eject defective burned CD-R disks and place properly burned CD-R disks on a specified disk spindle member. The system allows for source data to be read from multiple master compact disks inserted in specified stacked recordable disk drive members to provide for random access copying from the multiple master compact disks.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/696,376,filed Oct. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,198, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/816,257, filed Mar. 13,1997, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Digital compact disks were originally conceived in the early 1980's as atechnique to accurately copy and preserve audio recordings intended forsale to a mass market of consumers. As computing power has increasedexponentially since that time, information processing tasks unthinkableonly a few years ago have become commonplace and require large amountsof data most economically and conveniently stored on digital compactdisks.

Until recently the transfer of data onto compact digital disks was acostly procedure economically feasible only when manufacturing a largequantity of copies. Users whose applications required relatively fewcopies or required frequent data updates could not reap the benefits ofthis technology, even though low-cost disk-readers were readilyavailable.

The advent of recordable digital compact disks, generally referred to as“CD-R” disks, was intended to allow users to record their own disks andthereby achieve significant savings. Unlike a common compact disk thathas been pressed by a mold, a CD-R has a dye layer that is etched by alaser contained in the CD-R disk drive. Once etched, the “burned” CD-Rdisk is unalterable and will retain data for approximately 75 years.

Several practical problems have prevented CD-R users from attainingmaximal efficiency in the copy process, especially when attempting tomake multiple disk copies in a short amount of time. The primary problemoccurring in this situation is that the data throughput from the datasource, such as a file on a hard disk drive or a master compact digitaldisk, to the write head of the CD-R drive is interrupted during the copyprocess. Many times when this occurs the data buffer to the write headof the CD-R drive is exhausted and null data is written onto the CD-Rdisk, making the CD-R disk irrevocably defective.

The frequency of such a defective CD-R disk write increases at leastlinearly as the drive speed of the CD-R writing head is increased. Theindustry standard speed is approximately 150 K Bytes per second. SomeCD-R disk drives can write data at four times this standard speed, butwhile this increased speed lowers the total copying time, the frequencyof defective CD-R disk writes increases as data throughput from the datasource is increased.

An additional problem in a volume copying process is the necessity fordirect human supervision to prepare CD-R disks for copying, remove thedisks from the CD-R disk writer once copying is complete, and thenprepare the disks for inspection to ensure no defective CD-R disks areretained in the completed set of copies. Aside from the tedium involvedthat may indirectly add errors, requiring human attention in thisprocess adds a significant labor cost that is added to the end-userprice.

The copy speed versus accuracy problem described above is solved whenthe CD-R disk writer is configured to concurrently copy the data ontomultiple CD-R disks. For example, the total copy time for two CD-R diskdrives concurrently copying data at 150K Bytes per second is the same asone CD-R disk drive serially copying two CD-R disks at 300 K Bytes persecond, and the frequency of disk write errors using the concurrent diskdrives is approximately half that of the serial disk drive.

This system uses the concurrent copying method described above and alsoeliminates the necessity of direct human supervision of the copy processthrough the unique circular arrangement of CD-R disk spindle membersaround a pivotal transport tower containing a disk pickup head thatlifts a blank disk from a disk spindle member and transports the disk toone of the available stacked CD-R disk drives. After the recordingprocess is complete the disk pickup head retrieves and transports theburned CD-R disk copy to a specified disk spindle member for copieddisks.

The electrical and physical configuration of this system providesseveral additional benefits to users. The semi-circular arrangement ofdisk spindle members around the pivotal transport tower minimizes thenumber of moving parts needed to construct the disk transport assembly.A system having more disk spindle members can be constructed byincreasing the radius of the circle formed by the disk spindle members.Similarly, the arrangement of two stacked sets of recordable disk drivesallows for a scaleable design permitting the user to make low-costupgrades.

Prior disk copy methods only provided for lineal copying of a singlesource disk. The configuration of this system allows for several mastercompact disks to be transportable by the disk hub to a selected diskread head so that the copy process from the master compact disks is arandom access process.

Yet another benefit provided by this system is the system's ability totest burned CD-R disks for disk write errors, and through use of thepivotal transport tower, eject a defective CD-R disk isolating thedefective CD-R disks from the set of properly burned CD-R disks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The programmable, automatic compact disk duplication system of thisinvention includes a copy unit, a host computer, and computer software.The host computer and computer software provide an interface allowingthe user to pre-program the copy unit to perform a completely unattendedcopy and data verification operation upon blank CD-R disks pre-loaded inthe copy unit.

While not required for operation of the duplication system, it ispreferred that the duplication system use an IBM PC-clone running a DOSor Windows operating system so that users need not purchase additionalcomputer hardware to operate the duplication system. Hardware-specificcomputer components necessary to describe the duplication system willreference IBM PC and Windows specifications; however the duplicationsystem is not intended to remain limited to these specifications and adesigner skilled in the art would be able to translate thesespecifications into hardware and software equivalents for systems usingApple, UNIX, or IBM protocols.

The Copy Unit

The copy unit has a main copy assembly with an external vacuum pump. Theprimary components inside a housing for the main copy assembly include amicroprocessor, a set of disk spindle members, a pivotal transporttower, a data transfer unit, a vacuum regulator and an air filtrationunit. The external vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum regulator byan air hose leading to a disk suction pickup unit affixed to the pivotaltransport tower.

1. The Microprocessor

The microprocessor is an internal control unit for the copy unit and iselectrically connected to the host computer, the pivotal transporttower, and all CD-R disk drive heads. In the preferred embodiment, a8031 microprocessor is used, but any 8-bit microprocessor capable ofprocessing a command set of about 20 commands could be used.

The microprocessor receives user input generated by the software that isexecuted on the user's host computer. The computer software processesthe user input into a set of ASCII commands sent to microprocessor viaan RS-232 interface. The ASCII command set used is a variant of theTrace Mountain protocol that is often used to interface software tohardware copy devices. Commands sent by the computer software to themicroprocessor consist of one letter or one letter and two digits.

Once the microprocessor is sent a command by the host computer, themicroprocessor parses the command and sends an electrical signal to thepivotal transport tower.

Depending on the command sent by the computer software, themicroprocessor will transmit back to the computer software a “ready”indication, an echo of the command received, or a status indication thatcommand received was successfully or unsuccessfully executed. Thisstatus indication is then interpreted by the computer software into userreadable information displayed on the host computer's video outputdisplay.

2. The Disk Spindle Members

A set of disk spindle members are located on a front horizontal deck ofthe copy unit. The bottom of each disk spindle member is affixed to thehorizontal deck of the copy unit and projects vertically from the deck.The diameter of each disk spindle member is slightly smaller than thecenter hole of a CD-R disk, allowing for free vertical movement of theCD-R disk when the disk is located on the disk spindle member.

The disk spindle members are affixed to the horizontal deck of the copyunit along an arc of a circle around the axis of the pivotal transporttower. It is expected that at least two disk spindle members are affixedto the horizontal deck of the copy unit, allowing one disk spindlemember to hold blank CD-R disks and the other disk spindle member tohold burned CD-R disks. The radius of the circle is selected such thatCD-R disks located on adjoining spindles do not touch each other.

3. The Pivotal Transport Tower

The pivotal transport tower is centrally located in the copy unit at theradial center of the arc formed by the disk spindle members. The pivotaltransport tower is cylindrically shaped, with a vertically displaceablearm projecting radially from the pivotal transport tower. Inside thepivotal transport tower is an axle along the vertical axis of thepivotal transport tower. The axle is affixed to the base of the pivotaltransport tower. Connected to the axle is a first drive motor capable ofpivoting the pivotal transport tower about its vertical axis. Control ofthe first drive motor is also supplied from electrical signals sent bythe microprocessor.

An arm for a disk pickup head projects radially from the pivotaltransport tower. One end of the arm is connected to a belt runningvertically along the inside of the pivotal transport tower. The bottomof the belt travels around a set of gears that are connected to a seconddrive motor. When the second drive motor rotates the belt, the arm israised or lowered depending on the direction of rotation of the belt.

The other end of the arm supports a disk pickup head which has a disksuction pickup unit. The disk suction pickup unit is triangle-shaped andhas a circular aperture located at its apex. The diameter of theaperture is slightly wider than the diameter of a disk spindle member.Located on the underside of the disk suction pickup unit near eachvertice of the disk suction pickup unit is one suction member and onerubber stopper member. A sensor also protrudes downward from theunderside of the disk suction pickup unit and relays an electricalsignal back to the microprocessor indicating the presence of a targetdisk near the disk suction pickup unit.

Additionally, during operation of the disk suction pickup unit, RAMmemory located in the microprocessor or electrically connected to themicroprocessor retains data for each disk spindle member correspondingto the approximate vertical distance the disk suction unit must travelbefore retrieving a blank CD-R disk or placing a burned CD-R disk backonto the disk spindle member.

When the disk suction pickup unit is operated, the suction members drawin air, causing the target disk to adhere to the suction members,holding the target disk horizontally against the rubber stopper members.

The size and placement of the arm and the disk suction pickup unit arechosen so that during a disk pick-up or drop-down operation the selecteddisk spindle member passes through the aperture as the arm lowers belowthe top of the selected disk spindle member.

In a typical disk transport operation, the microprocessor issues asequential set of electrical signals that are translated into asequential set of operations performed by the second drive motor, thefirst drive motor, and the disk suction pickup unit. For example, thefollowing sequential operations controlled by the microprocessor occurwhen the copy unit transfers the top CD-R disk from a stack of CD-Rdisks surrounding a selected spindle to the data transfer unit:

the first drive motor raises the disk suction pickup unit to a heightsuch that all components of the disk suction pickup unit are above thetop of all disk spindle members;

the second drive motor pivots the pivotal transport tower to positionthe disk suction pickup unit over the selected disk spindle member,placing the aperture directly above the disk spindle member;

the first drive motor lowers the disk suction pickup unit along the diskspindle member until the suction members make contact with the CD-Rdisk;

the suction members engage and hold the CD-R disk;

the first drive motor raises the disk suction pickup unit along the diskspindle member until the CD-R disk held by the suction members is abovethe top of all disk spindle members;

the second drive motor pivots the pivotal transport tower, positioningthe CD-R disk held by the suction members for transfer into the datatransfer unit.

4. The Data Transfer Unit

The data transfer unit comprises two stacked disk drive receptaclemembers and a variable number of stacked recordable disk drive members.The two stacked disk drive receptacle members are affixed on oppositesides of the back horizontal deck of the copy unit and positioned alongthe arc of the circle formed by the disk spindle members at a distancegreater than the diameter of a CD-R disk. Each stacked recordable diskdrive member fits in a slotted receptacle member located in one of thetwo stacked disk drive receptacle members and is positioned on theperimeter of the circle formed by the disk spindle members, making eachstacked recordable disk drive member capable of receiving a disktransported by the arm.

Each stacked recordable disk drive member sends and receives binary datawith the computer software via a standard 50-pin SCSI connection betweenthe stacked recordable disk drive member and the host computer. Manualloading and unloading of a CD-R disk in every stacked recordable diskdrive member is accomplished through an input-output tray member that isa standard feature of recordable and read-only disk drives; control ofthe input-output tray member is also communicated through each stackedrecordable disk drive member's SCSI connection.

In the preferred embodiment, the top of the main copy assembly locatedin the void between the two stacked recordable disk drive members has adisk reject slide that is constructed at a downward angle, allowing thecombination of the pivotal transport tower and the two stackedrecordable disk drive members to eject defective CD-R disks out of themain copy assembly by dropping them onto the disk reject slide. Gravitypulls the defective CD-R disk downward along disk reject slide and thedefective CD-R disk leaves the main copy assembly.

An additional hardware item easily added to the data transfer unit is astandard disk printer that affixes printed labels or imprints the topside of any burned CD-R disk. In this configuration, the disk printer isplaced along the rear wall of the copy unit so that the input/outputloading tray of the disk printer opens into the void between the twostacked recordable disk drive members.

5. The Vacuum Regulator and the External Vacuum Pump

The vacuum regulator is housed inside the main copy assembly and isconnected to the suction members by a set of internal air hose members.An external air hose connects the vacuum regulator to the externalvacuum pump that is physically separated from the main copy assembly inorder to reduce vibrations inside the main copy assembly. The vacuumregulator maintains a constant pressure vacuum and is controlled by themicroprocessor.

6. The Air Filtration Unit

The air filtration unit creates a flow of filtered air through theinside of the main copy assembly to significantly reduce CD-R disk reador write errors caused by dust or other contaminants that may be in theair surrounding the duplication system. The air filtration unitcomprises a set of electric fan members, an air filter, a set of outflowvents, and an outer cover covering the outside of the main copyassembly. The electric fan members are positioned along the backvertical face of the main copy assembly and when operated draw air intothe inside of the main copy assembly.

Positioned along the inside vertical face of the main copy assembly isan air filter that filters air drawn in by the electric fan membersbefore it can circulate through the inside of the main copy assembly.The filtered air then exits the main copy assembly through the outflowvents.

The Host Computer

No particular type of host computer is necessary to support the copyunit and the computer software. A conventional personal computerequipped with a SCSI throughput interface and a hard disk drive capableof retaining an image of the master data will suffice.

The Computer Software

In the preferred embodiment, the computer software necessary to directthe data transfer operations is written in the “C” programming languagerunning under a Windows operating system. However, the computer softwarecould be written using any computer language and operating systemcompatible with the computer used, provided Trace Mountain—typeprotocols can be sent to the copy unit via an RS-232 or SCSI connectionbetween the host computer and the copy unit.

These and other features will become apparent from a consideration ofthe Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the compact disk duplication system ofthis invention with a perspective view of the copy unit.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the main copy assembly with the clear outercover removed.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the pivotal transport tower.

FIGS. 4A-D are segments of a continuing flowchart diagram of theprocedures performed in a disk copy operation.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic representations of an auxilliary printapplication unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the programmable automatic compact disk duplicationsystem of this invention is designated generally by the referencenumeral 10. The duplication system 10 includes a host computer 12, shownschematically, connected to a copy unit 20. The host computer 12comprises a programmable computer that includes computer software forproviding a user interface for operating the copying process of the copyunit 20. It is to be understood that the host computer may beincorporated into the copy unit 20 with the copy unit having a keyboardor other input device such as a control panel for managing the operationof the copy unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copy unit 20 includes an internal microprocessor24 that is electrically connected to the host computer 12 forcontrolling the electromechanical operations of the copy unit 20. Thecopy unit 20 is constructed with a housing 14 having a deck 16 housingthe electronics and drive assemblies, and a cabinet 18 housing thecopying and printing components.

The deck 16 has a base platform 22 for a pivotal transport tower 58 anda series of disk spindle members 52 disposed in an arcuate arrangementaround the transport tower 58. A removable transparent cover 59, shownin FIG. 2, encloses the tower 58 and disk spindle members 52 to protectthe system from dust contamination during operation and allow forfunctioning of an air filtration circuit as later described.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the copy unit 20 has fourdisk spindle members 52. In such a configuration two of the disk spindlemembers 52 may hold blank CD-R disks, one disk spindle member designatedas a master disk spindle member 52 a may hold one or more master compactdisks. The remaining disk spindle member is designated as a masteroutput spindle 52 b and is used to hold the master compact disks aftersource data has been transferred from the master disk.

The pivotal transport tower 58 is located in the center of the arcformed by the disk spindle members 52 and rotates about its longitudinalaxis passing directly through the center of the arc. Attached to thepivotal transport tower 58 is an arm 56 that rotates along the arc asthe pivotal transport tower 58 pivots and also travels vertically alongthe pivotal transport tower 58. A vertical aperture 64 having its centercorrespond to the arc is located on the arm 56.

As described below, the underside of the arm 56 has several componentsallowing the arm 56 to temporarily affix a compact disk to the undersideof the arm 56 and retain the compact disk as the arm 56 travels radiallyor vertically. Other means including mechanical pickup mechanisms may besubstituted for the preferred pneumatic unit of the describedembodiment.

In FIG. 2, the arm 56 is positioned above one disk spindle member thatis holding a stack of CD-R disks 50. For illustration purposes this diskspindle member is designated as the master disk spindle 52 a, but it isto be understood that the physical transfer of compact disks from alldisk spindle members is identical. At the base of each disk spindlemember 52 is a removable spindle base 51 allowing the user to insert orremove a stack of compact disks held in place by the disk spindle member52.

Upon activation of a motor housed inside the copy unit 20, the arm 56descends with the disk spindle member 52 passing through the aperture64, until a sensor 66 located on the underside of the arm 56 detects thepresence of a compact disk 50. Then suction supplied by disk suctionpickup unit 54 affixes the compact disk 50 to the underside of the arm56, the suction remaining constant until the compact disk 50 istransported to its resting place. The suction then terminates and thecompact disk 50 is released from the arm 56 by gravitational force.

Located opposite the disk spindle members 52 are two sets of stackeddisk drive receptacle members 82. Each stacked disk drive receptaclemember 82 accepts a standard stacked recordable disk drive member 84.Each stacked recordable disk drive member 84 has an autoloading tray 85that, when fully opened, positions the center of a compact disk 87 alongthe radius arc defined by the arc of the disk spindle members 52. Thisgeometrical configuration allows the arm 56 to place and retrievecompact disks in any of the stacked recordable disk drive members in thesame manner as the arm 56 places and retrieves compact disks on the diskspindle members 52.

For clarity, in FIG. 2 the components located inside the main copyassembly 20 are designated schematically by hatched rectangles, andwhere necessary, detailed drawings of these components are shown inother figures.

The deck 22 of the main copy assembly 20 is box-shaped, having a flatrectangular bottom and sides perpendicular to the bottom. Inside thedeck 22 is a microprocessor 24 that is connected by an electricalconnection 26 to an RS-232 port 28. A stepper motor 32 receives signalssent by the microprocessor 24 through an electrical connection 30. Ashaft 34 leaving the stepper motor 32 connects to a gearing unit 36.Connected to the gearing unit 36 is an axle 38 that rotates when thestepper motor 32 is engaged. An external air hose 74 enters an openingin the deck 22 and terminates at a connection to a vacuum regulator 72.

A female power receptacle 40 allows for attachment of an electrical cord(not shown) providing standard 120V AC to a transformer 44 through anelectrical line 42. As detailed below, the transformer 44 supplies powerto components throughout the main copy assembly 20; inside the deck 22,the microprocessor 24 receives power through electrical line 46 and thestepper motor 36 receives power through electrical line 48.

Compact disks 50 sit on the top of the deck 22 and are held in place byone of the disk spindle members 52 until retained by the disk suctionpickup unit 54 that is located on the underside of the arm 56. Anaperture 64 through the arm 56 allows the disk suction pickup unit 54 totravel downward with the selected disk spindle member 52 passing throughthe aperture 64 as the disk suction pickup unit 54 travels downwardbelow the vertical height of the top of the disk spindle member 52.

The disk suction pickup unit 54 has suction members 60 creatingsufficient suction to hold one disk against the rubber stopper members62 that keep the disk in a horizontal position. The vacuum hose 70 ispositioned along the inside wall of the pivotal transport tower 58 andone end is connected to the vacuum regulator 72. The other end of thevacuum hose 70 has three connector members 71 allowing the air flow tobranch into each attached suction member 60. A sensor 66 is attached tothe disk suction pickup unit 54 and sends a signal back to themicroprocessor indicating the presence of a disk near the disk suctionpickup unit 54.

The arm 56 is affixed to the pivotal transport tower 58 and rotation ofthe arm 56 is accomplished through pivoting of the pivotal transporttower 58. The other end of the arm 56 is secured around the axle 38,allowing for radial movement of the pivotal transport tower 58 when theaxle 38 rotates.

Behind the pivotal transport tower 58 is the data transfer unit,designated generally by the numeral 80. Sitting on each of the two rearcorners of the deck 22 is a stacked disk drive receptacle member 82containing slotted receptacles 83 for holding a variable number ofstacked recordable disk drive members 84, allowing the user vary thetotal number of recordable disk drives available to burn disks. Eachstacked disk drive receptacle member 82 can also hold a read-only diskdrive permitting very fast transfer of data from master disks.

The stacked disk drive receptacle members 82 are placed on top of thedeck 22 along the outside of the perimeter of the circle formed by thedisk spindle members 52 such that the arm 56 may transfer a disk to thespace between the two stacked disk drive receptacle members 82. A disktransported to this region may then be inserted into any of the stackedrecordable disk drive members 84 provided the stacked recordable diskdrive members 84 have a standard motorized loading tray 85.

Located at the bottom of the region between the stacked disk drivereceptacle members 82 on the top of the deck 22 is a disk reject slide92 slanting downward out of the rear of the data transfer unit 80 thatreceives defective CD-R disks dropped down by the arm 56 in the regionbetween the stacked disk drive receptacle members 82. Defective CD-Rdisks dropped onto disk reject slide 92 fall out of the main copyassembly 20 by gravity.

The system can also be equipped with an optional print application unit93 that is placed behind the stacked disk drive receptacle members andloads and unloads CD-R disks in the space between the two stacked diskdrive receptacle members 52 and directly above the disk reject slide 92.In this configuration, the print application unit 93 is electricallyconnected to the host computer 12 and imprints markings or printedlabels to the top side of a burned CD-R disk.

The optional print application unit 93 is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Theprint application unit comprises an ink jet printer or a thermal printerto imprint a blank disk with markings or labels. Where disk blanks arepreviously printed with markings 94, such as designs 94 a, and a labelwindow 94 b as shown in FIG. 5B, it is necessary to rotate the disk orrotate the virtual bit mapping of the new marking or labels to be added,so that the new printing registers with the pre-existing printing. It iscommon, for example, for blank CD-R disks to have company names andlogo's preprinted by a silk screening process by the disk supplier or anintermediary. New material may comprise titles or added decorative workrequiring registration coordination. Since disks are symmetrical andconsistently positioned, proper angular orientation is all that isrequired to achieve registration.

In FIG. 5B, a disk 95 is positioned on retractable printer tray 96 andis preprinted with an angular registration mark, such as dot mark 94Cadjacent the hub hole. A digital camera 97 retrieves a digital image ofat least the center portion of the disk, and the limited field areawhere the mark must necessarily be found is analyzed by a softwareprogram to locate the registration dot mark 94 c and to determine itsangular orientation. The virtual image in memory is rotated accordinglybefore or while the reoriented bit map is printed to disk.

By use of a simple registration mark positioned in a predeterminedannular area, image analysis is greatly simplified and equipment costsare reduced. Furthermore, by consistent placement of the mark withrespect to the angular orientation of the original printing, an initialrun for image loading of the original printing is avoided.

When the print application unit is a thermal printer, the newly printedimage or markings requires little or no time to cure before the disk canbe robotically handled and moved to the output spindle. Ink jet printingrequires a bit longer for the deposited ink to dry before handling.Ordinarily, with simple labels and text titles, the limited ink depositdries during the time another disk is being recorded in a single stationduplication system. In a multiple station system as is presentlydisclosed, accelerated drying is prefereed to insure proper drying.

In the duplication system of this invention, accelerated drying for inkjet printing is aided by an elongated thermal element 98 at the loweredge of the partially shrouded opening 99 of the application unit 93.Heated air passing to an external vent member 90 a at the back top ofthe print unit 93 accelerates the drying of the ink. The system ispreferably programmed to allow the disk 95 to remain in the extendedtray 96 as long as possible after printing before pickup by the pickupunit 54 on the transport tower 58 and deposit on the output spindle.

Located at the rear of the stacked disk drive receptacle members 82 areone or more electric fan members 86 that draw in air to ventilate themain copy assembly 20 preventing heat build-up created by the stackedrecordable disk drive members 84. An air filter 88 is positioned on theinterior rear wall of the data transfer unit 80 that filters the airdrawn in by the electric fan members 86 before the air travels throughthe interior of the main copy assembly 20. The filtered air then exitsthe interior of the main copy assembly 20 through vent members 90 blocated on the deck 22.

In systems having the optional print application unit 93, the filteredand warmed air is passed through the printer to exit the auxiliary ventmember 90 a as described. The circulated air aids in drying of theprinted disk deposited on the top of the output spindle as well.

In a system having a mechanical pickup unit that engages the disk holeand does not contact the newly printed surface, the thermal element andprogrammed delay of pickup may be unnecessary, and drying accomplishedby the component warmed air circulated over the printed disk when on theprinter tray and on the output spindle.

Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of the mechanical linkages that allowfor movement of the pivotal transport tower is shown. The pivotaltransport tower 58 has a cylindrical outer shell 100 that is orientedvertically and sits on a circular rotating base 102. Affixed to thebottom of the center of the rotating base 102 is an axle 38 that allowsfor radial movement of the pivotal transport tower 58.

The axle 104 passes through an aperture 106 in the top of the baseplatform 22 and also passes through an aperture 108 in a horizontalframe member 110. The end of the axle 38 is affixed to the center of apulley wheel member 112. Rotation of the pulley wheel member 112 iscontrolled by a belt 114 surrounding a second pulley wheel member 116.

Affixed to the center of the second pulley wheel member 116 is one endof an axle 118. The other end of the axle 118 is affixed to the centerof a third pulley wheel member 120. Rotation of the third pulley wheelmember 120 is controlled by a belt 122 that also surrounds the perimeterof a fourth pulley wheel member 124.

Rotation of the fourth pulley wheel member 124 is controlled by one endof a shaft 34 that is affixed to the center of the fourth pulley wheel124. The other end of the axle 34 is connected to the stepper motor 32that is the source of all rotation of the pivotal transport tower 58.Attached to the frame 110 is an encoder sensor 131 that is electricallyconnected to the stepper motor 32 and prevents over-rotation of thepivotal transport tower 58.

An aperture 130 through the cylindrical outer shell 100 allows formovement of the arm 56 along the vertical axis of the pivotal transporttower 58. The back 134 of the arm 56 is affixed to a belt 132 thattravels vertically and raises or lowers the arm 56 as the belt 132moves.

The top end of the belt 132 travels around a pulley wheel member 136.The outer side of the rear face of the belt 132 makes contact with apulley wheel member 138 that makes the rear face of the belt 132 traveltowards the rear of the pivotal transport tower 58.

The inner side of the rear face of the belt 132 then travels around apulley wheel member 140 that is connected to a stepper motor 142 thatrotates the pulley wheel member 140 when the stepper motor 142 isengaged.

The inner side of the rear face of the belt 132 then travels around apulley wheel member 144 that changes the direction of the travel of thebelt 132 back to vertical.

The stepper motor 142 is electrically connected to a limit sensor 146placed above the pulley wheel member 136 and disengages the steppermotor 142 when the limit sensor 146 detects the presence of a limit flag148 placed on the top of the arm 56.

One end of the air line 150 is connected to a vacuum line valve 152 thatcontrols the flow of air through the air line 150. The air line 150travels through the inside of the pivotal transport tower 58 and throughthe arm 56 and the disk suction pickup unit 54, with openings connectedto each disk suction member 60.

Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4D, a flowchart of the proceduresperformed in a disk copy operation, are shown. The logic necessary toperform a disk copy operation is programmed into the computer softwareon the host computer and programmed into the microprocessor locatedinside the copy unit.

A user begins a disk copy operation by loading master disks on a diskspindle member designated as the master disk spindle member 52 a andloading blank recordable disks onto other disk spindle members 52. Theuser then supplies power to the copy unit 20 and starts the computersoftware located in the host computer 12. These initializationsubprocedures are indicated in item step 200. A display 13 connected tothe host computer 12 then prompts the user for information regarding theselection of the master disk spindle 52 a and the location of the blankCD-R disks. The user also selects a master output spindle 52 b that willhold master disks after the data transfer from each master disk to thehost computer 12. The user also supplies instructions indicating thetracks on the master disks to be copied. This operation is indicated initem step 210.

When first powered on, the internal microprocessor 24 sends electricalsignals to test the operation of the arm 56, as indicated in item step220. The microprocessor 24 sends a set of flags back to the computersoftware to signal the status of the hardware located on the copy unit20, as indicated in item step 230. If the computer software receives astatus flag indicating hardware failure, the computer software issues adisplay error message for the user to decode, and the copy process isterminated, as indicated in item step 240.

If the computer software receives status flags indicating the hardwareis operational, the computer software sends instructions to themicroprocessor that comprise a data acquisition subprocedure. Thebeginning of the data acquisition subprocedure is indicated in item step250 and comprises item steps 260 through 340.

In item step 260, the computer software checks if a disk drive on thehost computer contains an image of the master data. If an image filealready exists, control of the software is transferred to item step 360.Otherwise, control of the computer software is transferred to item step270.

As indicated in item step 270, the computer software first compares thenumber of disk drives to the number of master disks loaded on the masterdisk spindle member 53. If the number of stacked recordable disk drives84 is greater than or equal to the number of master disks, the computersoftware sends a command set to the microprocessor 24 to transfer eachmaster disk to an available stacked recordable disk drive 84, asindicated in item step 280.

The computer software then sequentially issues read commands to eachstacked recordable disk drive 84 containing a master disk and transfersthe source data from each master disk to the host computer 12. Thesecommands are summarized in item step 290. Once the data transfer processis completed, the computer software sends a command set to themicroprocessor to transfer each master disk back to the master outputspindle 55, as indicated in item step 300, and the data acquisitionsubprocedure is complete.

If the number of stacked recordable disk drives 84 is less than thenumber of master disks, the computer software must loop through itemsteps 310 through 340 until all master disks have been transferred to anavailable stacked recordable disk drive 84.

This loop begins when the computer software sends a command set to themicroprocessor 24 to transfer the maximum number of remaining uncopiedmaster disks held by the input spindle from the master disk spindlemember 52 a to the stacked recordable disk drives 84, as indicated initem step 310. Then in item step 320, data is transferred from themaster disks to the host computer 12 in the same manner as in item step280.

After all data from the master disks loaded in stacked recordable diskdrives 84 has been transferred to the host computer 12, the master disksare either transferred to the master output spindle 55, or are ejectedonto the disk reject slide 92, as indicated in item step 330.

The computer software completes this loop as indicated in item step 340by comparing the number of uncopied master disks with zero, andreturning to the top of the loop at item step 310 if any uncopied masterdisks remain. Once the data acquisition subprocedure is completed,control of the computer software is transferred to the beginning of thedata transfer subprocedure, indicated as item step 360.

At the beginning of the data transfer subprocedure, the computersoftware will, if necessary, reformat the image of the source datalocated on the hard drive of the host computer to ensure optimalrecording speed and accuracy. This computation is indicated in item step370. A variable containing the number of copies made is initialized tozero, as indicated in item step 380.

Item steps 390 through 430 correspond to a loop over all selectedstacked recordable disk drives 84 whereby the computer software firstissues commands to the microprocessor 24 to query the hardware status ofeach stacked recordable disk drive 84, as indicated in item step 400.The computer software will alert the user of any stacked recordable diskdrive 84 that the microprocessor 24 has identified as non-operational,as indicated in step 410. Otherwise, the computer software will set aflag indicating that the queried CD-R drive is operational, as indicatedin item step 420.

Once the hardware test loop is completed, the computer software brancheson a test of the number of operational stacked recordable disk drives84, as indicated in item step 440. The computer software will exit thecopy process if no stacked recordable disk drives 84 are operational, asindicated in item step 450. Otherwise, the computer software initializesto zero a variable containing the number of copies made, as indicated initem step 460.

The computer software then enters a main copy loop, indicated in itemstep 470, that repeats until the number of copies made equals thedesired number of copies. This comparison operation is made in item step480, and the proper termination of the copy process occurs in item step490.

If the number of copies made is less than the number of copies desired,the computer software initializes to zero a variable containing thenumber of copies currently loaded in the stacked recordable disk drives84, as indicated in item step 500. The computer software then enters aninner loop comprising item steps 510 through 580, with each cycle of theinner loop corresponding to the transfer of a blank disk to an availableoperational stacked recordable disk drive 84.

This inner loop begins with a comparison of the number of copies desiredwith the sum of the copies already made plus the number of disks loadedthe current batch transfer, as indicated in item step 520. If the sum ofthe copies already made plus current number of disks loaded into thestacked recordable disk drives 84 equals the number of copies desired,the inner loop terminates, as indicated in item step 530.

Otherwise, the computer software issues a set of commands to themicroprocessor 24 to transfer a blank disk to the next available stackedrecordable disk drive 84, as indicated in item step 540. The computersoftware then checks the status of the disk transfer, as indicated initem step 550, and will terminate or otherwise commence other errorhandling subprocedures if the disk transfer failed, as indicated in itemstep 560. Otherwise, the variable containing the number of disks loadedis incremented by one, as indicated in item step 570.

Once the inner loop terminates at item step 580, the stacked recordabledisk drives 84 have been loaded with the maximum number of blank disks,the computer software sends electrical signal instructions that activatethe physical transfer of source data to each blank disk loaded in theloaded stacked recordable disk drives 84, as indicated in item step 590.The computer software then examines copy status flags from each loadedstacked recordable disk drive 84, as indicated in item step 600, andissues a command set to the microprocessor 24 to discard burned CD-Rdisks corresponding to any bad copy status flags, as indicated in itemstep 610.

In item step 620, the user can optionally configure the computersoftware to perform a data verification on each burned disk that iscurrently loaded in the stacked recordable disk drives 84. In thissubprocedure, the computer software would direct each stacked recordabledisk drive 84 to read the data off the burned disk and compare it to thesource data residing on the hard drive of the host computer 12.Defective burned CD-R disks would be ejected from the copy unit in thesame manner as in item step 610.

In item step 630, the user can optionally configure the copy unit toinclude a print application unit that imprints or labels the top of eachburned CD-R disk with information transferred from the computersoftware. In this subprocedure, the burned CD-R disk is ejected from itsstacked recordable disk drive 84 and vertically transported by the disksuction pickup unit 54 and then loaded into the input tray 96 of theprint application unit 93.

The printer has internal software to effect the printing tasks includingoptional analysis of a preprinted disk and orientation of a virtualprint image under command of the software of the copy unit. If optionalprint step is affirmative the print unit is ordered to extend the printtray 96 at step 632. The copy unit loads a correctly burned disk at step633. If the print image must be oriented to register with a preprintingof the disk at option step 634, then the photo image step 635 takes animage of the disk which is analyzed at step 636 by the software tolocate the orientation mark and calculate the angular orientation of theto-be printed image for proper registration at step 637. Thisaccomplished, or if not required, the print disk step 638 is executed.After printing, the tray is extended at step 639, and a delay pickupdecision at step 641 is made. If pickup is to be delayed, for example,to allow ink jet printing ink an extended opportunity to dry, the pickupis delayed at step 643 is made. If no, or after delay the print optionloop returns to the main path at step 640 where the disk is eventuallytransferred to the output spindle or spindles.

The variable containing the number of loaded stacked recordable diskdrives is reset to equal the number of properly burned CD-R disks, asindicated in item step 640. The total number of copies made is thenincremented by the number of properly burned CD-R disks, as indicated instep 650. The computer software then issues a command set to themicroprocessor 24 directing the transfer of the properly burned CD-Rdisks to one of the designated output spindles, as indicated in step660. The computer software receives a status signal from themicroprocessor 24 indicating whether the transfer occurred properly, asindicated in item step 670, and will display an error message and exitif a disk transfer failed, as indicated in step 680. Otherwise, controlof the computer software drops to the bottom of the main loop 690 andthen returns to the top of the main loop at item step 470.

While, in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have beenset forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a completedisclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in theart that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departingfrom the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for the duplication of data onto compactdisks, the system comprising: a copy unit, comprising: multiple diskdevices having extendible disk trays, wherein at least one of the diskdevices is a recordable disk drive; a transport tower; at least one diskretainer member, arranged in a symmetric circular pattern around thetransport tower with any extended one of the extendible disk trays,wherein the disk retainer member maintains the order and placement of atleast one stack of compact disks during the copy operations, wherein adisk stack in the disk retainer member has a top disk; an arm, operablyconnected to the transport tower wherein the transport tower has alongitudinal axis and the arm is pivotal about the longitudinal axis ofthe transport power, the arm having a disk engagement and lift mechanismthat cooperates with the transport tower to engage and lift a top disklocated on the top of a stack held in place by one disk retainer memberto an extendible disk tray of any selected one of the multiple diskdevices, wherein the arm, the disk engagement and lift mechanism, andthe transport tower also cooperate to engage, lift and pivot a disklocated in any one of the extendible disk trays of the multiple diskdevices to the extendible tray of another of the disk devices havingextendible disk trays.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multipledisk devices include multiple stacked recordable disk drives.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1 having multiple sets of multiple stacked recordabledisk drives.
 4. The system of claim 1 having a set of multiple diskretainer members, wherein selected disk retainer members in the set ofdisk retainer members are removable from the copy unit.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the copy unit has an air filtration unit, the airfiltration unit comprising: a set of electric fan members, the electricfan members drawing air into the inside of the copy unit; an air filter,the air filter positioned along the inside vertical face of the copyunit and filtering the air drawn into the copy unit by the electric fanmembers; a set of outflow vents located on the copy unit, the outflowvents allowing air drawn through the copy unit by the electric fanmembers to exit the copy unit.
 6. The system of claim 1, including ahost computer and a display wherein the host computer contains computersoftware and computer memory, and wherein the host computer iselectronically connected to the copy unit, with the computer softwareproviding a user interface that outputs diagnostic messages regardingthe copy unit to the display.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the copyunit includes a microprocessor located inside the copy unit wherein themicroprocessor controls movement of the transport tower and the arm. 8.The system of claim 7, including a host computer and a display whereinthe microprocessor is electronically connected to the host computer withthe microprocessor sending electrical signals to the host computer andthe microprocessor receiving electrical signal commands from the hostcomputer, and wherein the computer software provides a user interfacefor user control of the copy unit.
 9. The system of claim 8, whereindata to be duplicated onto compact disks is located on one or moremaster compact disks and is transferred to the memory of the hostcomputer by the recordable disk drive.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the computer software provides a user interface for user inputof copy instructions for the control of each master compact disk duringthe duplication of the data.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the copyunit has a disk reject area wherein defective compact disks aretransported to the disk reject area.
 12. The system of claim 1, whereintat least one of the disk devices is a disk label printer with anextendible disk tray, wherein each compact disk has a recordable sideand a printable side, wherein the transport tower and disk engagementand lift mechanism of the arm connected to the transport tower cooperateto selectively engage, lift and pivots a compact disk to the extendedextendible tray of the printer, wherein the printer prints a label onthe printable side of the compact disk.
 13. The system of claim 1,wherein the system has at least one master compact disk with master dataand master disk data transfer means for reading the master data on themaster compact disk and then selectively transferring the master dataonto the compact disks.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the systemhas user interface means for pre-programming the control of theduplication of data.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system hasdefective compact disk detection means for detecting defective compactdisks and ejection means for ejecting detected defective compact disksfrom the copy unit.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the copy unit hasa print application unit with printing means for printing on the compactdisks when the pivotal transport tower and disk engagement and liftmechanism of the arm connected to the pivotal transport tower delivercompact disks to the print application unit.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the print application unit includes means for drying a printeddisk.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the copy unit has means forcirculating air, and wherein the print application unit has vent meanslocated to optimize drying of a printed disk in the print applicationunit by air circulating means of the copy unit.
 19. The system of claim17, wherein the drying means includes a thermal element.
 20. The systemof claim 16, wherein the compact disks are preprinted and include apreprinted orientation mark, and wherein the print application unitincludes means for detecting the preprinted orientation mark, computerprogram means for determining the angular location of the orientationmark, and computer program means for rotationally orienting ato-be-printed image in registration with the preprinted orientationmark.